There were only just over 20 in each group that completed the follow up period, but there was a significant reduction in total respiratory infections, and particularly in rhinovirus infections. The prebiotic group did better than the probiotic group, but both had a significant reduction in rhinovirus and overall respiratory infections than the controls, over the first year of life.

The authors include a systematic review of previous studies in the discussion, of either prebiotics or probiotics or both: of the 7 previous studies (in full term infants) 5 have shown a reduction in respiratory infections, for some reason 3 of the previous studies were from Finland, including the largest which had 1000 babies enrolled (and showed a reduction in respiratory infections).

Maybe we shouldn’t be limiting our probiotics to just the early preterms, the late preterms may have advantages too!